"But mushrooms know to look for
opportunities, to find magnificent
ways to carry on.
Mushrooms grow on green roofs in cities,
on pinecones, and even in flowerpots inside
houses. They can survive forest fires.
Studies have shown lightning strikes
make some mushroom species multiply."
This introduction to fungi is highly informative, while also being engaging. Inviting readers to see mushrooms as always wearing their 'thinking caps', Ms. George presents numerous labeled species. She explains the roles mushrooms play in almost every ecosystem.
Their growth is mostly underground in a network called mycelium. What the world sees is what is above the ground, while much is happening below. They make countless spores which are carried by the wind to find appropriate places to grow and prosper. They are strong enough to grow through concrete. Some glow in the dark, while others help trees grow.
Young readers are sure to enjoy double-page spreads that name a number of species while also showing the variety in color, size and shape. It is quite amazing to learn that there are thirty thousand species, and more are being discovered. I love the names!
There is a lot to learn here, offered in small bites of information so as not to overwhelm. Ms. Gillingham creates bright and lively faces on each mushroom, and provides backgrounds that make each stand out on the page. A list of further facts is added in a Did You Know? section on final pages and a warning is offered about some mushrooms being poisonous. Better to look rather than touch when on a mushroom-spotting excursion.
"One honey mushroom has an underground network
that covers thousands of acres and has been living for
nearly 2,500 years."
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